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How many social norms are you accepting in your life because it is what you are told to believe and be? What about my current environment am I accepting because it's a social norm? Marriage is one of those that is entered upon and not fully creating a conscious relationship. Chip and I have a conversation around relationships and the abuse that happens with men.   One of the commonalities that I have been noticing in my conversations is that men often lose themselves in their relationships, especially when they are in a traditional religion relationship. As Chip shares, he served a mission and then did the next step of finding a wife and put his wife and his children above his own wants and needs. This is so common.  Did you know that about 1 in every 6 to 7 men will be a victim to domestic abuse?   Did you know that: The rate of suicide is highest in middle-aged white men.In 2020, men died by suicide 3.88x more than women.On average, there are 130 suicides per day.White males accounted for 69.68% of suicide deaths in 2020We create our own experiences. Sometimes things happen we cannot control, but how we respond we can control. The more you can step into the learning in each relationship, with eyes open, it will propel you into more and more of yourself asking to be seen. Have you been building a life be design or letting life push you around and creating a world that you do not love? We have the ability to build a life by design. Our lives are defined by the stories we tell ourselves and the stories we tell others. To Chip, the phrase strive satisfied shows the ability to be okay with what is and hope to have dreams and desires. To follow Chip Hopper, head over to his website: https://www.bookjedi.com IG: @chiphopper FB: @chiphoper Wanting to be apart of my upcoming group mentorship program? Email me aj@amandajoyco.com for more info. Starts July 6th. Grab my latest book! https://www.amazon.com/Leaving-Religion-Those-Leave-Behind/dp/1952566487/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1FUQQ23L4I458&keywords=leaving+religion+%26+those&qid=1655217437&sprefix=leaving+religion+%26+those%2Caps%2C126&sr=8-1

Are you feeling like you are in the fire? How can you navigate the fire when you are in it and how can you see the gifts? When we are leaving religion, or going through any transitions in life, it can feel as if we are being put in the fire. It feels painful, I get it trust me. And, there is beauty in this fire as it's burning away more layers of those places within that are asking to be deconstructed. This assists you in becoming more clear in who you are. My book, Leaving Religion a Guide, is a powerful tool to assist you in your deconstruction. In this episode I share a bit about how this book came to life, the challenges that I faced while writing and publishing this book and I share one of my most vulnerable chapters around shame. Come join my group mentorship program geared to assist any of you that are moving through transitions in life right now. The group starts July 6th and is packed with freebies, weekly calls, daily accountability and massive support and tools. This course will fill up quickly so snag your spot today. And, if you join my gift I want to give you an autographed copy of my book for free! Email me aj@amandajoyco.com to secure your spot. To get my book, head over to amazon! https://www.amazon.com/Leaving-Religion-Those-Leave-Behind/dp/1952566487/ref=sr_1_1?crid=15D40RVX90IO8&keywords=leaving+religion+%26+those&qid=1654713416&sprefix=leaving+religion+%26+those%2Caps%2C142&sr=8-1 Grab my meditation bundle: https://www.amandajoyloveland.com/offers/kFjGjqQc/checkout Are you enjoying this podcast? Please leave me a review!

Terina had an unique experience leaving the church. Going from devout Mormon to reading the Gospel Topic Essay's and two weeks later crying in her bishops office knowing she was  being done. Join me as I have a beautiful conversation with Terina, who is a life coach, as she shares some valuable tools that assisted her in her transition out of Mormonism. Grab my latest book, Leaving Religion a Guide! https://www.amazon.com/Leaving-Religion-Those-Leave-Behind/dp/1952566487/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1VJZLYGIDGFTI&keywords=leaving+religion+%26+those&qid=1654055556&sprefix=leaving+religion+%26+those%2Caps%2C180&sr=8-1 To follow Terina: http://www.terinamaldonado.com https://www.instagram.com/terina_maldonado/ https://www.facebook.com/HealEmpowerEducate  https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTdt726Xv/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/terina-maldonado-49129b201/ Grab her book, Fear to Freedom: Stories of Triumph After Leaving a High Control Religion https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B08D89DNTY/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_3YH4KKX14D5WDRBMJAQ1

Where are we not allowing those in our circles to be seen and heard, especially with our men?  Where are you not allowing yourself to own all parts of yourself and recognize the wholeness of all that you are? It is time for us to pick up crosses, to burn them, to stop the suffering and to embody and be seen for all that we are. 

Join me and Keira Poulsen as we talk about the books that have been burned. There have been so many women in our history that have written sacred books that were burned and or destroyed. Often these women were also killed, burned with their books, as a heretic for speaking truth. How amazing and fortunate are we that we live in a time where we get to speak our truth, we get to write sacred books and publish them without fear of death! Are you feeling the call to write your sacred book? If so, join us next week for our writers retreat and step through the gateway to this stunning writers experience. It's time to for your message to reach the world. Join us: https://www.amandajoyloveland.com/writersretreat To learn more about Keira Poulsen, connect with her here: https://www.keirapoulsen.com/ IG: @keirapoulsen FB: @keirapoulsen To listen to my previous episode with Keira,  check out episode #27 https://open.spotify.com/episode/5fP1lDecf5wWYDeLuMwR5H?si=lk__205jSJGqljHy0ZotBg

My guest, Hugh Vail, has spent thousands of hours combing through scriptural texts and finding the true meaning in the translations of the scriptures. For example, the word perfect  is not translated correctly. Perfect actually means whole. So it's about our wholeness as we are all whole. Sin has a truer meaning of missing the mark. Is it possible by having a different perspective on some of the ancient stories it can help you to have more peace? Is it possible that religion is a necessary first step in learning about spirituality and ancient wisdom? Hugh shares some of his formula that has taken him years to create around how to move through and let go of your story.  Are you still holding onto your wounded story? Our conversation dives deep into scriptural truths, ceremonies, the endowment and more. We talk through ancient stories and ancient wisdom that you will want to dive into with us! To follow Hugh and to learn more about what he does head to his website. LINKS: https://www.mustangmedicineevents.com IG: @mustang_medicine_ To grab your ticket for our upcoming event head to: https://www.amandajoyloveland.com/leanin

Solocast. As Easter is coming up it is common to wonder what we celebrate now after religion. In this episode today I am diving into this time of year, plus touching on some pieces from the Mormon conference that was experienced for many. What if there was a comment made about members who leave being compared to Judas, why does it matter? We have been taught, conditioned and programmed as to who Jesus was. He was not what we have been taught to believe and many of us have been or are still living in the shadow of the cross. It's time to see the shadow and step into the light. Where are you holding to places within that are not allowing for new truth and experiences to come in? Where are you needing to let go and heal parts of you? What gets to be re-birthed? Book referenced: The Existential Kink by Carolyn Elliott, PHD Grab your ticket today for my upcoming speakers symposium! April 24th in Highland, UT https://www.amandajoyloveland.com/leanin

Today I am sitting down with the beautiful Anna Ship. Anna shares her fascinating story of growing up in New Mexico. At a young age she experiences abuse, her mother passing and then her father leaving her life. Adopted by her aunt, Anna had many changes in her young life and is now Mormon with her adoptive family. The church, Anna says, was a safety blanket to her. It offered her comfort. The idea of Zion, she says, "this was it." In the community that she grew up in. "I embodied everything about the church." Later on in life, after a marriage that she gave everything to - even sacrificing herself, she had experiences through her church that rattled her beliefs. For fourteen years, Anna shares, she was hustling to be the number one woman in her husbands life. It created a prison and she discovered that she was stuck. Her priesthood leadership was not great at the time and the experiences that she had with them would have caused her to leave. She was ready to walk away as she lost all respect for priesthood leaders. A book came into her life, "How to Love" by Thich Nat Hanh and it was a godsend to her at this time in her life. Anna shares that she still has a lot of love for the church and still holds that there are a lot of truths there, she just now believes that it's universal. During a conversation with her mother she asked Anna, "do you believe that God's work never fails? It's God's work and glory to bring past our eternal life, that's not our work. Our job is to love and we are on God's work table." This rang true to Anna. Later, during a conversation with her bishop where she was not going to get her temple recommend, he said, "you know it's okay not to have a recommend. It's okay if it take a long time."  Anna shares that this was the first time in the church that she felt someone was telling her it was okay to have the journey. With this thought that it's okay to have the journey and the belief that everyone is on God's work table, gave her permission to allow the pieces to fall. God has me. There is no space he's not LINKS: To join me in my upcoming speakers symposium grab your ticket here: https://www.amandajoyloveland.com/leanin Are you feeling the call to write your book? Come join my upcoming retreat May 12th-15th! https://www.amandajoyloveland.com/writersretreat The Book How To Love by Thich Nhat Hanh https://www.amazon.com/Love-Mindfulness-Essentials-Thich-Nhat/dp/1937006883 Grab my guided journey for the death and rebirth cycle. Are you feeling that something gets to die? This is a stunning practice and one that you will find extremely helpful. https://www.amandajoyloveland.com/offers/nHjFkTTY/checkout

Solocast. Probably one of the hardest parts about leaving religion is telling your family, am I right? Is that one of the reasons you still stay is because you don't know how your loved ones will react? Today I am diving into tips and tools with how to navigate this part of your journey. Remember that fear is just excitement without the breath. Come join my speakers symposium! Grab your seat today: https://www.amandajoyloveland.com/leanin

My guest today is Cyndi Markey who used to be a Jehovah's Witness. Did you know that Jahova's witnesses' cannot celebrate birthdays? They cannot socialize with people outside of their church family unless it's for work or school. Cyndi shares with me about how growing up women and children were to be seen and not heard. In High School Cyndi was able to take a class that was not an approved class from the church. She loved her teacher and he taught her critical thinking skills. She later received a scholarship but couldn't accept it as higher education was frowned upon. At 18 years old she met a guy that she loved and as nature would have it, they had sex. Cyndi was given a public reproof in front the of the church for her sin and if you were not shown to be sorry enough, you would be ex-communicated from the church. She had been told that if she disassociated herself before she was dis-fellowshiped that it would be better for her as she could still be with her family. She learned quickly that this was not the case, in fact this was much worse. Cyndi moved to Tennessee and her family followed her, she was stalked by her family and members of her church as they were trying to save her soul.  She moved from Tennessee to Arizona and then to Chicago to live with her grandmother. In Chicago she tried to establish some sort of normalcy. To her normalcy looked like establishing routines, getting a car, a job, getting friends and having a sense of community. As Cyndi tried to unpack the previous years of her life it was painful and she attempted to take her life at 21 years old. She later married a man, divorced and then had a few other marriages. She asked herself, "Why can't I find the keys to happiness?" This question propelled her into finding her healing. Cyndi breaks down finding happiness and yourself in 4 steps: 1. Know Yourself 2. Trust 3. Teach 4. Love Self Your heart knows, Cyndi shares. Build your own resilience. Did you know there are more neurons in the heart than there are in your brain? Cyndi is now a heart math practitioner and shares some fascinating information about the power of the heart. Cyndi was an author on a book Fear to Freedom: Stories of Triumph After Leaving a High Control Religion. Get your copy today! https://www.amazon.com/Fear-Freedom-Stories-Triumph-Religion/dp/0228825652/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1647314520&sr=8-1 To connect with Cyndi, visit her website: https://www.cyndimarkey.com Are you signed up for my emails yet? https://amandajoyloveland.mykajabi.com/optin?preview_theme_id=3223780 Grab your tickets for my upcoming speakers symposium, Lean Into Your Light. https://www.amandajoyloveland.com/leanin

Do you know what the dark night of the soul is? What about upper limiting? Today I am sharing a bit more raw and candid conversation about the dark night of the soul, what it is and also about upper limiting. One of my favorite poems by Marriane Williamson says,  " Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.   Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.   It is our light, not our darkness  That most frightens us.  We ask ourselves  Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?  Actually, who are you not to be?  You are a child of God.  Your playing small   Does not serve the world.   There's nothing enlightened about shrinking   So that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine,   As children do.   We were born to make manifest   The glory of God that is within us.   It's not just in some of us;   It's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine,  We unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.  As we're liberated from our own fear,  Our presence automatically liberates others." Want to work with me? Are you ready to put down what isn't serving? Let's chat.  Email me aj@amandajoyco.com

I am mixing things up a bit today as I had the privileged of sitting with one of my favorite people, Angie Shockley. Unlike my previous guests, Angie was not raised Mormon but raised as more 'protestant'. Angie's grandfather was a huge influence in her life. At a young age, her grandfather enlisted in the military and later was deployed during World war 2. He was severely injured and while pleading with god for his life, he made the vow that if his life was saved he would devote his life to serving him. His life was saved and he dove into reading the bible, later creating his own non-denominational church. He became a preacher, if you will, and raised his family in a religious setting that has some fairly strict rules, like women do not wear pants. At around 14 years old, after a comment made from a woman in her church, Angie got up and walked out of the building and decided she would not go back. This was somewhat accepted in her family and was really never talked about. Angie shares her beautiful story of life through these moments, her relationship with her grandfather after she left, her parents, her marriages and especially her year of being alone while she truly found herself. Angie and I also talk about trauma and some tools to navigate it. As a Shamanic practitioner, teacher, business owner and someone who works with youth every day Angie brings with her a vault of wisdom and inspiration. This is another truly beautiful episode! Links: To connect with angie head over to her website: http://www.livingmindfullyaware.com You can follow her on IG at: livingmindfullyaware If you would like to contact her directly, her email is: mindfulangie@gmail.com Also, if you are feeling a souls call to join my next retreat head over and secure your room: https://www.amandajoyloveland.com/unbind My speakers symposium is coming up April 24th. Grab your tickets at: https://www.amandajoyloveland.com/breakingthrough